Oahu Hawaii

For the last 3 days, we went to the Ala Moana Shopping center, around the Ala Wai Canal and swimming at the Waikiki beach. I also did some last minutes shopping at the International Market. Got some really good deals on Hawaiian shirts for my husband. We went around the whole Waikiki area on foot. It was a great exercise though we had to stop to rest from time to time. We took pictures during those stop. We were floating on an air tube on the Waikiki Beach. Life was great until we have to come home. I did a lot of reflecting on that day. I realized that if I wanted to live life like this more in the future. I got to start keeping my priority straight and stop waiting for something to happen for me.

Yestersay, we went to the Waikiki Beach the whole day. We were tube surfing along with the rest of people. There were alot of surfer in the water. The wave is high and bigger and bigger each time. We were on a lime green tube. At night we went to shop around the stores along the beach. We bought some shirts for Hugh and his parents. I love to shop. This morning my arm pit is soared. I think it was from trying to pull myself up from the tube during the high tide. We're going to proably go spend some time on the beach again or go walking around the canal behind our hotel.

Day 11, we went around the West shore. We first drove to Yokohama Bay. The sight was beautiful, blue skies and clear blue water. We took some pictures and went to play in the water. The wave was high. And it kept getting higher. We then drove to Makaha Beach. There we took alot of pictures and Also I went to play in the water. Walking around the shoreline when there was no one there was cool. I think everyone was at work and there's no tourist that comes there. You will have alot of privacy if you here on a weekday. I also saw some surfer in the water. I think it was about noon. There was people fishing along the rocky area. We stopped at some lookout point. There was beautiful mountain view along the path. We made our way all the way to Waimanalo beach. We had nice time along the road. We then stopped at KFC for lunch and went to Walmart to buy some food before we have to return the car.

We went to the north shore today. We stopped along the way to Hanauma Bay lookout, Sandys Beach lookout and went to Waimea Valley Park to go to the waterfall. Because it was a botenical garden we had to pay a fee to get into the park. We had a great time looking at different type of plant from different part of the world and islands. It took us a short time to get to the waterfall. Great thing there was no uphill much. We swam in the waterfall pool. We didn't bring swimsuit but we couldn't miss out on a lifetime chance to swim in the waterfall. It was great. The water was fresh water and smell clean. We even upto the fall and jump down. We took lots of pictures and was really wet. We spend the rest of the day at the Waimea Valley Park. It was really fun there. And there wasn't alot of people there so we got alot of time swimming in the waterfall. We'll go back there one day!

We went back to Diamond Head. We forgot to take pictures the last time so we went back and hike up the crater again. This time I did better than last time but it was still hard at the stairs. The hike up wasn't so bad. I just took more time and also there wasn't alot of people like the last time. It wasn't as hot as it was before. We took our time up the hill. We took alot of pictures and stay up there for about an hour. We were almost some of the last people to leave the site. I was tired so we came back to the hotel and relax.

For day 8, we decided to rent a car. We hike to Manoa Fall and paid $5 for parking. Good thing we had a GPS that help guided us to the fall. The road was muddy and wet. It's a rainforest. There's alot of tropical plants-coconut trees, banana trees, bamboos, plants I've never heard of. It was a beautiful hike uphill mostly. I almost slip because of the muddy road uphill. The waterfall was small and kind of dry up. But I heard that it was bigger and better in different season. We took alot of pictures. We drive back and I change into a short and we went to the Swamp Meet again. I bought a silk wrap skirt that would of cost me $50 at the International Market. I also bought some teeshirts. It took us short time then when we took the bus. We were so glad that we didn't have to sit on the bus and wait for the bus. We came back to the hotel and rest for a couple of hour. Then we went out to the beach and watch the sun set and had dinner at Chilis. It was a great dinner.

For day 7, we decide to go aroung the island using thebus ride because it was our last day using thebuss pass and we didn't know where else to go. We took thebus on the Pail hwy. We stopped at the lookout. It was beautiful scencery. We can see the ocean and mountain range from the highway. We decided to stop at Turtle Bay. We went to the beach, took some pictures, walk around the beach. We had lunch and sit and watch the tide come. The water was blue and the waves was big. It alot bigger than the ones in Waikiki beach. There wasn't alot of people there. Looks like alot of the locals and the people from the resort are there. The sight was beautiful. Just a sunny day. It wasn't hot if you stay in the shade. There was a cool breeze at the time. And then we took thebus back to Honolulu. We wanted to stop at different cities but we were distracted by a local who was telling us about the Waimea Falls and Manoa Fall. I decided to come back another day before we were unprepared for a hike. I had a dress on. We stopped at Chinatown and bought some fruits.

We went to Sandy Beach and Sea Life Park Beach. The waves are bigger than the ones on waikiki beach. We took the bus and stop at sites. We took alot of great pictures. The wave was so powerful that it almost blow me away on the Sea Life Park beach. I didn't plan on swimming or getting wet and I did even though I was on the rock side. There were alot of rocks. We even saw manos swimming in the little puddle of water of the rock. It was a beautiful sight. It's a much better place to go wave catching and surfing. Seems like only the locals were there and we just happen to stomble upon. We took the bus back on the other side of the beach. We saw jungles and alot of exocit plants. The way through the mountains. The sight was beautiful. We will come back another day when we rent a car.

We went to Germaine's Luau and had a great time. There were dances and delicious foods. They were Hawaiian food. We also went on stage and dance. Had a great time. This is really the culture of Hawaiian. We learn that everyone in Hawaiian culture is a cousin, no matter who you are and how you are related. We learn something funny like this "We went to Hawaii and ate and drink peepy and poopy" hahah It means eat pork and drinks. Funny hun?

Day after that, we went bought 4-day thebus pass and went to Diamond Head. The hike was cool until we got to the stairs. Woow..I thought I was going to pass out.. I was huffing and puffing. But when we got to the top, it was well worth it! Too bad my camera's battery went out. We couldn't take any pictures. We will go back there before we leave Hawaii. My legs and muscles are still hurting. We will wait until it gets better first. After noon, we went to The Aloha Swamp Meet. There was alot of things there and the prices was a bit less than at Waikiki beach. So I bought some sarongs for my sisters and hawaiian shirts for my husband.

Yestersday, we went to Hanauma Bay. At first we were going to go touring around the beaches, but we met someone whose going to Hanauma Bay and said that it was the most awesome thing to do in Hawaii. So we believe her and went there. We spent $5 for entrances each and spend another $28 for rentals of fins, snorkeling gear, life vest- just so we don't drown. We saw alot of colorful fishes. At first, I couldn't snorkel because I could breath thru the mouth and keep fogging up the mask. We went to have a very expensive lunch and spent $20 for 4 hot dogs, water, and chips. So, next time we go, we definitely need to pack a lunch. We spent the whole day there. When we came back to the hotel, we were so tired and my husband had a bad sunburn on his back. Makesure to have good coverage sunblock on next time. Because you will be laying forward on the water, makesure to put good coverage sunblock on your back and back side of your legs.

We went on a sunset dinner cruise ship with Starlet Paradise ship. We had a wonerful time. The food was okay, but I expected better because it cost about $70 per person. We took some nice pictures and got to see dances, which I thought was awesome. This wasn't what we really wanted. We orginally wanted to go to the Ali Kai one but someone told us that this one was better and it was more expensive, so we change it into this one. Anyway, overall it was good. There wasn't alot of people so you get more interaction times and the scenic was beautiful.

Today, we went to the Waikiki beach and swim. It was beautiful. The water was cool and salty. The waves was great and got more powerful at the end of the day. We had a great time. I stepped on a rock that had something that poked my feet. It hurted but got better after I got off the water. I think people should wear water shoe, because there's things growing on rock under the water that could poked your feet if you step on it. OVerall, I had a great time there. We went walking on the beach and took alot of pictures. It's beautiful like the postcard and pictures that you see on screen saver. What a wonderful day!